Jenni Minto elected convener of Standards Committee

Jenni Minto has been elected to convene the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee at the Scottish Parliament.

The SNP MSP saw off competition from her party colleague Emma Roddick.

This was the first time committee conveners have been elected at Holyrood, a part of reforms agreed at the end of the last session to improve scrutiny.

Minto secured 90 votes to Roddick’s 28 in a secret ballot of MSPs.

Both have previous experience in government. Minto was public health minister until last month when she resigned from government.

In a letter to First Minister John Swinney, she said she made the decision to spend more time in her constituency.

Roddick was equalities minister under Humza Yousaf’s leadership but exited government after Swinney’s election two years ago.

The convenerships of the remaining 15 committees were all elected without a contest.

All nominations were put to a secret ballot after receiving at least one objection, but all secured a majority of ‘yes’ votes.

Craig Hoy, the Conservative MSP who was elected to convene the Social Justice, Housing and Local Government Committee, saw the biggest pushback against his nomination. While 67 MSPs vote yes, 34 voted no. A further 18 MSPs abstained.

Reform conveners also saw sizeable votes against them. Duncan Massie, who will convene the Economy, Tourism and Energy Committee, received 66 votes in favour and 21 against. There were 29 abstentions.

Helen McDade, who was elected convener of the Health, Care and Sport Committee, received 65 votes for and 21 votes against. There were 29 abstentions and six spoiled ballots.

The full list of conveners is as follows:

• Finance Committee: Clare Haughey (SNP)
• Public Audit Committee: Neil Bibby (Labour)
• Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee: Patrick Harvie (Green)
• Equalities and Human Rights Committee: Katie Hagmann (SNP)
• Public Petitions Committee: Paul Sweeney (Labour)
• Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee: Calum Kerr (SNP)
• Climate Action Committee: Stuart McMillan (SNP)
• Criminal Justice Committee: Alyn Smith (SNP)
• Economy, Tourism and Energy Committee: Duncan Massie (Reform)
• Education and Gaelic Committee: Karen Adam (SNP)
• Health, Care and Sport Committee: Helen McDade (Reform)
• Public Service Reform Committee: Bob Doris (SNP)
• Rural Affairs Committee: Mark Ruskell (Green)
• Social Justice, Housing and Local Government Committee: Craig Hoy (Conservative)
• Transport Committee: Willie Rennie (Lib Dem)
• Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee: Jenni Minto (SNP)